Among tonight's Halloween treats is Aisha Tyler headlining at the Comix Comedy Club

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & midnight ($15): “In ancient times, an evil spirit would rise from hell every Halloween and appear incarnate at the UCB Theater…where he would soak the stage (and parts of the audience) with a ridiculous amount of fake blood. Now that demon is back, ready to unleash a gory, hopelessly bloody torrent of vengeance…and a ridiculous amount of fake blood. Fortunately, the beast only slaughters those who are rife with selfishness, greed, hatred, and a few people who just suck (though a little bit of fake blood sometimes gets on the audience). That demon’s name is Killgore.” This show is written by legendary UCB co-founder Matt Walsh and directed by brilliant UCBT Artistic Director Anthony King, and will run three times tonight and tomorrow night to celebrate Halloween. Come wearing cheap washable clothes and enjoy Killgore: The Resurrection

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Always fresh and imaginative world-class sketch troupe that uses song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about awkward goodbyes at the end of a party, please click here): The Harvard Sailing Team

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:30 pm: The hosts of comedy shows Don’t Touch Me There and New Young Comedians encourage you to “make out with drunk people in monster costumes” and “make out with drunk people in homeless person costumes—oh wait, that’s a homeless person who wandered in…which is fine, because admission is free” at Karma Lounge for this year’s Halloween Dance Party

[$] 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who’s written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle’s Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

Comedic horror play "Killgore: The Resurrection," written by Matt Walsh and directed by Anthony King, runs repeatedly tonight and Saturday night at UCBT

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & midnight ($15): “In ancient times, an evil spirit would rise from hell every Halloween and appear incarnate at the UCB Theater…where he would soak the stage (and parts of the audience) with a ridiculous amount of fake blood. Now that demon is back, ready to unleash a gory, hopelessly bloody torrent of vengeance…and a ridiculous amount of fake blood. Fortunately, the beast only slaughters those who are rife with selfishness, greed, hatred, and a few people who just suck (though a little bit of fake blood sometimes gets on the audience). That demon’s name is Killgore.” This show is written by legendary UCB co-founder Matt Walsh and directed by brilliant UCBT Artistic Director Anthony King, and will run three times tonight and tomorrow night to celebrate Halloween. Come wearing cheap washable clothes and enjoy Killgore: The Resurrection

10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($10): NYC’s fearless heavy metal version of a sketch comedy troupe, which more than any other epitomizes the spirit of Halloween: Murderfist: Late and Dirty

[TOP PICK] 11:30 pm ($5): “In 1978, the ABC network produced a Halloween Special so shocking it could never be aired on television. For 21 years, it has been locked in a vault, consigned to be forgotten by history – until tonight. Finally unearthed, the record of this horrifying event is being presented live on stage. Join Paul Lynde and his guests for a wonderful extravaganza of comedy, music, and horror that is sure to induce nightmares amongst the fair of heart. Due to its graphic nature, viewer discretion is advised:” The 1978 Paul Lynde Halloween Special

[$] 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who’s written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle’s Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($25): A dynamite evening of comedy from two of the best stand-ups in the country performing at NYU’s 700-seat Skirball Center: Aziz Ansari and John Mulaney

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Comedy giant Dave Hill performing a charming and hilarious one-man show about a musical tour overseas, and sketch troupe Sidecar performing bits about the end of the world, in the double-bill Dave Hill: Big in Japan and Sidecarmageddon

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Aziz Ansari (co-star of NBC’s Parks and Recreation and MTV’s Human Giant, and one of the best stand-up comics on the planet; his razor-sharp mind and fluid, down-to-earth style are unmatched by almost any other comic working today); Reggie Watts (musical improv comedy genius; 2009 ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act and 2007 Andy Kaufman Award; Jimmy Fallon; cast member of the new Electric Company), Morgan Murphy (staff writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, former staff writer for Jimmy Kimmel and Crank Yankers), and more joining hilarious hosts Joe Mande and Noah Garfinkel at Totally J/K

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) providing as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that’s part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible—and don’t forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night

8:00 pm to midnight ($5): Three full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Penthouse Riot, People People, The Law Firm, Bastian, and The Bishop—at Harold Night

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): John Mulaney, Natasha Leggero, Jordan Rubin, David Wain, and a “special guest” (who I’m guessing is a prime-time TV star and former NYC stand-up visiting town this week) performing at The Slipper Room for a special Halloween edition hosted by the wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet

[FREE] 11:00 pm: Free open-mic stand-up show that’s seldom much fun for audience members but is a nice opportunity if you want 4-5 minutes to test out your comedy material on stage: Bring It

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($7): Typically star comics (who are usually announced, but this is one of those “take it on faith” days) performing stand-up at this weekly event at Brooklyn’s Union Hall, hosted by comedy giant Eugene Mirman (who just released a new comedy album, God Is a Twelve Year Old Boy With Asperger’s; for a fun recent Village Voice write-up, please click here): Tearing the Veil of Maya

[FREE] 10:00 pm: Michelle Buteau (in one of the last chances to see her before she moves to LA), Kaitlin Colombo, Scott Ryan, and Shawn Hollenbach performing stand-up at a free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour